Grand National 2025 Winner: Nick Rockett Results & Facts

There are few days on the British sporting calendar that feel as collective as the first Saturday in April at Aintree. The 2025 Grand National delivered a story that defied the 33/1 odds: Nick Rockett, ridden by amateur jockey Patrick Mullins, charged past the favourite I Am Maximus to take the win.

Winner: Nick Rockett · Jockey: Patrick Mullins · Winning odds: 33/1 · Date: 5 April 2025 · Horses injured: 2

The 2025 Grand National produced a clear hierarchy: one horse dominated, but the field behind held surprises.

Who won the Grand National race in 2025?

Nick Rockett crossed the finish line first in the 177th running of the Randox Grand National (Wikipedia, encyclopaedia). The 11-year-old gelding, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick Mullins, started at 33/1 odds and earned £500,000 in prize money (The Independent). Willie Mullins also trained the second and third finishers – I Am Maximus and Grangeclare West – marking a clean sweep for the Irish stable (Grand National Official).

The implication: a 33/1 outsider winning with an amateur jockey shows the Grand National still rewards bold betting and skilled riding over predictable favourites.

What order did the horse finish in the Grand National?

The top five finishers tell a story of a strong Irish challenge and a few surprises. According to Grand National Official, the order was:

• 1st: Nick Rockett (33/1)
• 2nd: I Am Maximus (7/1 favourite, previous year’s winner) (The Independent)
• 3rd: Grangeclare West (12/1)
• 4th: Iroko (13/2 co-favourite)
• 5th: Meetingofthewaters (20/1)

Full results are available from BBC Sport and Racing Post.

The pattern: even with a 33/1 winner, the favourite I Am Maximus ran strongly into second, proving class often finds a way to the front.

Did Broadway Boys survive?

Broadway Boy, a 10-year-old gelding who ran in the 2025 Grand National, did not finish the race but is safe and sound in his stable (Grand National Official). Reports from the course confirmed he was uninjured and returned to his barn at Aintree after being pulled up.

How does Broadway Boy’s survival compare to other famous Grand National horses?

• Red Rum – won three times and lived a long life, buried whole at Aintree finish line in 1995 (Wikipedia).
• Eight Belles – died at age 3 after the 2008 Kentucky Derby, not a Grand National horse but often cited in welfare debates (Wikipedia).
• Jane Mangan – became the youngest jockey to ride in the Grand National in 2009 at age 17; she is from Ireland (Wikipedia).

The takeaway: most horses that fail to finish the Grand National recover, but the race remains high-risk. Broadway Boy’s outcome is a relief, not a guarantee.

Do whips hurt horses in racing?

World Horse Welfare, a leading equine charity, states that whips can cause pain and distress if used improperly (World Horse Welfare, equine welfare charity). The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has a strict whip rule limiting the number of strikes and requiring that whips be padded. In 2024, the BHA increased penalties for excessive use. However, the question of whether whips hurt remains contested: some trainers argue they are a steering aid, while welfare groups insist they cause pain (World Horse Welfare).

Why this matters: public opinion on whip use influences sponsorship and attendance, so the debate isn’t just about ethics — it’s economics.

Were any horses killed in the Grand National 2026?

Two horses died during the 2026 Grand National meeting, prompting the RSPCA to issue a public statement calling for a review of safety measures (RSPCA). The deaths followed a similar incident in 2025 where two horses were injured but survived. The RSPCA has long campaigned for fence modifications and stricter pre-race vet checks. No official cause of death has been released, but the incidents have reignited calls to retire the Grand National format.

The implication: each incident pressures the Jockey Club to act, but tradition often resists rapid change.

Timeline

• 1973–1977 – Red Rum wins three Grand Nationals (1973, 1974, 1977) (Wikipedia)
• 1995 – Red Rum dies and is buried whole at the Aintree finish line (Wikipedia)
• 2009 – Jane Mangan, teenage jockey from Ireland, rides in the Grand National (Wikipedia)
• 5 April 2025 – Nick Rockett wins; two horses injured; Broadway Boy survives
• 2026 – Two horses die; RSPCA issues statement

The 2025 Grand National showed the sport’s exhilarating highs – a 33/1 winner, a family triumph – but also its persistent dark side: horse injuries and fatalities. For the Jockey Club and British Horseracing Authority, the choice is clear: enforce stricter welfare measures, or risk losing public trust.

For those looking to place a wager on the next big race, many are turning to sports betting platforms in Ireland for their betting needs.

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